The restorative powers of

A well made cuppa. Tea! What a fantastic drink. Lovely and hot, tea bag left in for two minutes, one sugar, normally don't have any, but feeling the need this morning and hey presto! Normal good humoured, get off your backside and sort the washing out, clean up the kitchen, and do some marking, lesson prep and proof reading kids UCAS draft statements is resuming. All done in a crab like gait with a hangover like demeanour. Never mind Dylan's "keep turning left" expedition; I've got my own " can only turn right" thing going on down here in wet and windy South Devon!

Oh and I've managed to fall down the stairs, bump into a door and broken the string pull light switch in the bathroom because I grabbed it to support myself during a dizzy spell. It's going to be quite a funny day.

In the meantime, the steep drive is a death trap slide with black algae and decaying leaves; Arwen is filling up nicely with rainwater because I haven't managed to pump her out this week or replace the old tarps with the new ones; there are twenty eight logs that need cutting up in the garage to form log reindeer kits for kids to assemble and sell to raise money for charity and.................

Maybe, just maybe, I might just retreat back to bed. Some days it's just not worth getting out of bed until things have calmed down!!
My sense of humour is restored, self pity has departed.....normal service is being resumed.
Sorry about the temporary slip folks 

This week

It started last Friday when a family member was taken into hospital as an emergency. They were discharged the following day with strict advice about behaviour, bed rest and taking it easy. So I went to see them and collapsed with labrynythitis so bad that paramedics were called who sent me to hospital to check I wasn't having a stroke. So going to see them to cheer them up didn't quite go as planned. I just freaked them out further!  Discharged on Sunday morning, by Monday my serious ear infection was getting worse and so my doctor prescribed very strong antibiotics. Which led to an allergic reaction so I had to come off those the day before having an endoscopy to check I didnt have oesophagal cancer. With that done Wednesday under sedation, I barely had time to celebrate the great news that I didnt have cancer and what damage there was could be solved by tablets in short term before my ear infection returned with a vengeance and I started my crab like walking existence leaning against any object I could find for support. Throw in a sore throat, headache, stiff neck and stomach pain from the endoscopy, AND having to take off four days in a row which I have NEVER done in thirty two years of teaching, well I'm feeling slightly jaded as I sit here in bed and my normal cheery good humoured up for anything disposition has deserted me for five minutes.

I know, I know, there are people suffering far worst fates at this moment in time and I should count my blessings. Normal cheery banter will be resumed in five minutes time.........sleep deprivation.....it always makes things seem bad first thing in the morning!

Give me five minutes of self pity folks! Normal service will be resumed shortly. Promise!

Dinghy cruising: equipment packing lists..........

The final packing lists for Arwen

I have been ill and off work for a few days with a serious ear infection and dizziness. But now I am just about upright and I have been trying to keep myself positive by thinking about cruises next year. I have various packing lists for Arwen but have decided to take it down to one comprehensive one based on what I have read in Roger Barnes excellent book on dinghy cruising, the really helpful lists prepared by Joel on his blog about Ellie and some lists that Steve Earley uses on Spartina which I think he got from some annual water expedition in the USA. 

So here goes

When day sailing within the sound or up the various rivers

- handheld compass

- local charts

- first aid kit

- torch and spare batteries 

- spare clothes

- sailing knife

- two anchors and their rides

- my handheld VHF

- SPOT PLB and spare batteries 

- mobile phone

- sun cream and lipsalve

- food and drink

- sun hat or warm beanie

- foulies bag containing waterproof walking trousers, waterproof sailing sallopettes, waterproof sailing jacket, sea boots, spare sealskinz socks, sun hat, wooly hat, sealskinz waterproof hat, spare gloves

- charts

- distress flares

- handheld GPS

- wind anonometer

- logbook

- radio licence and insurance papers

- gopro and batteries and mounts

- spare camera

- a watch

- sunglasses

- waterproof pouch for car keys, bank cards and money

Already on board for day sail

- four fenders

- four big white fenders

- two anchors and rodes

- bucket

- fuel bottles x 2 and outboard fuel funnel

- one five litre jerrycan

- bailer and hand pump

- drogue and rode

- morning warps x 4

- spare mooring warps x 3

- oars 

- fog horn

- spare sail ties

- rowing cushions and side thwart cushions

- folded radar reflector

-  rudder and tiller

- waterproof large torch

- sponges and towels

- odd lengths various widths of rope

- toolbox containing small can oil, WD40, clothes, marine grease, marine select, file, pliers, mole grips, screw drivers assorted sizes, saw, mallet, adjustable spanner, bradawl, hand drill and various drill bits, screws and nuts and bolts, spare blocks of different sizes, duct tape, sail tape, wooden bungs of various sizes, spare cleats, spare kill cord, spare shackles of various sizes

- safety harness

Spare inflatable lifejackets x 3

- emergency grab bag containing fire starting kit, spare water, smoke flare canisters, spare emergency rations, spray hood, spare VHF handheld radio and batteries, spare penknife and sailing knife, wind proof matches

- lead line 

For coastal passages

- steering compass already on board

- passage charts all waterproofed

- my navigation equipment including dividers, Breton plotter, small boat almanac, binoculars, skippers handbook, small flip file of emergency procedures and rescue signals, waterproof notebooks, waterproof pencils, pencil sharpener, 

- solar powered small transistor radio, erasers, speed-distance tables, 

- passage plan documents

- notebook with pilotage notes

- OS map of area

- simple instruction sheets for sail trimming and sailing onto or off moorings etc ........I forget sometimes and it pays to have the info in easy to see annotated diagrams when in doubt as aide memoirs ......awful isn't it!

For sleeping onboard trips

- sewing kit

- spare batteries 

- boom crutches

- boom tent

- sleeping platform although this will be replaced this winter with the ingenious system used and designed by Joel, onboard Ellie

- another jerrycan of fuel

- twelve  1.5 litre bottles of freshwater

- washing up bowl

- cooking box 1 containing transit stove, fuel bottle, paper towel, cooking utensils, bowl plate, mug, knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon, sponges, washing up liquid, scourers, matches, tin opener, small torch on flexi wire stand, aluminium foil, waste rubbish bin liners, spare carrier bags, 

- cooking box 2 containing foodstuff for trip 

- sleeping waterproof bag containing sleeping roll mat, sleeping bag, gortex bivvy bag, sleepwear, washing kit, toilet rolls, pyjamas, three soft cushions, head torch, powermonkey solar charger and cables, reading book, 

- clothes bag containing  underwear, mid layers, spare trousers, and shirts, spare socks, spare waterproof sealskins socks, trainers and or sandals, spare waterproof jacket (lightweight), 

a short train journey away to the north

is the isolated mountain outcrop and the Monastery of Montserrat. Recommended to me by my sister in law - a closeted geologist - I was expecting big things.......and I wasn't disappointed!

the view from the station

waiting for the lights

getting there early to avoid the crowds

the only passing loop on the rack railway

the train journey up on the little rack railway

the cable funicular - the photo really doesn't show HOW steep that incline was!

Wow! I mean Wow on so many levels!

The train ride out through the suburbs of Barcelona and across the countryside...wow!

The transfer onto a small rack railway funicular and the stunningly steep climb to the monastery - double wow! The views were amazing, the drops, terrifyingly impressive in the odd place or two,  on a par with one or two in the Alps but not quite the same height drop.

The funicular railway up to the highest peaks - insane! Nothing should be able to go up rails at that angle - insane! Wow, wow, wow - we survived and the cable didn't break!

the monastery lying beneath the conglomerate cliffs with the cable funicular in the foreground

a climbers paradise?

And Wow, Wow, Wow, wow and double wow again! The mountain scenery...breath taking. Loved it, absolutely loved it! But firstly the museum................

some of the paintings in the small but rather good museum in the monastery complex

this painting shows all the small churches and retreats across the Montserrat mountains range

the small town of Montserrat

 

Then there was the monastery itself, well hidden!

 

the outer facade

the inner courtyard

inside the Basilica

 

And the mountain scenery? Well a walker and climbers paradise - bought back the days of my youth when knees were stronger!! Quite envious!

 

my geology is rusty and I didn't have a guide book but I'm going for 'conglomerate'

a conglomerate formed under water with lots of rounded pebbles - so river estuary? Coastline?

 

lots of conglomerate spires

hidden somewhere are little churches and retreats

somewhere up there is a French climber we met and her partner

 

so many mountain paths to choose - spoilt for choice

yep they were going to climb it

don't let perspective fool you - its steeper than it looks

I felt quite envious!

 

 

 

 

 

Passion.....for life

Dimly lit, the lights hung low on long wires from vaulted ceilings, pale terracotta ancient brickwork walls, old roman arches, bricked up doorways, 50's Jazz......all accessed down an arrow alley between five story high ancient buildings.........the cafe atmosphere was warm, soft and animated!

Tables huddled together, it was easy to spot who were American, British, Scandinavian, German.......and who were from the Mediterranean countries........it was all a matter of 'proximity'! The former nationalities tend to sit opposite each other, across tables. Lots of smiles, lots of chatter.........but a gap between people, even couples.

Mediterranean nations on the other hand?

 Ooh lala! 

Up close, side by side, same side of the table, animated, heads close, gesticulating hands, facial expressions in overdrive and lots of hugs, touching hands and arms,  stroking knees, caresses of faces and hair.......romance and flirting so tangible in the atmosphere, aided by the intimacy of our surroundings. Food savoured slowly, small dishes and many of them, sharing tapas.....lots of laughter, head shaking, eye widening......mobile phones glanced at, the quick text, but never a loss of focus on your companion, multitasking at its best....its intimate, each couple intent on each other, their universe that small table, the food, wine and the person they are with whether it be friends or partners.

It's passion on display, passion for life, for music, food and each other........to enjoy 'the moment'.......

I probably need to up my 'romanticism levels' My gorgeous wife deserves better!

Then the 'British' bloke bit kicks in............romance....what's that mularkey?

Serenity amongst the stonemasons

It's taken over a century to build and another ten years are needed to finish it. The Segada Familia, a cathedral to atone for Barcelona's previous sins of murdunity.

I made the mistake of climbing up the third tower from the left - oh my!!

Within, 16 pillars soar 15 metres high before dividing into five branches which continue their journey upwards to the heavens. Each ends in a stone canopy, the effect startling. For Gaudi wanted the congregation to be sat under a woodland. If you have ever spent time lying under a tree staring up into its canopy then you will appreciate his efforts.

Before I went in, I'd spent time sat on a bench under a jacaranda tree in the neighbouring park. As I sat there contemplating on whether or not I was eating the best mint chocolate chip ice cream ever, a pretty lady in her late forties walked up to the tree and lay her forehead against the trunk. One arm curled around it, she muttered some words, looked up at its canopy and broke into the most amazing smile. Thanking the tree she walked off, sat on a bench and chatted to her friends. I'm pretty sure I witnessed someone's personal religious experience. Her face lit up looking at that tree. Forty minutes later, sat under Gaudi's masterpiece of religious iconary for an hour and I kind of get it............I'm not religious. But 'spiritual'? I kinda get that bit......... . I was ready to walk out and hug trees.

On Gaudi's certificate for architecture, his teacher wrote "we have either let lose a madman, or a genius......only time will tell".  I suppose your view of architecture is subjective. We will all have different tastes.  For me, Gaudi was the latter, a true genius whose understanding of space, shape, form and style transcended everyone else's effort.

typical Gaudi-esque tiled tops

his stain glass windows are spectacular and the ambient light they create when the sunshine comes through windows is beyond description. This photo does not do it justice

views from up the tower....my climbing days are over! Never have I suffered from such bad vertigo before!

New elements still being added and will be for the next ten years!

Glad I'm not one of the builders although this must be an amazing project to work on

Those lovely decorations......

200 steps down in a tight spiral - a nightmare!

trunks into tree canopies - look closely and you can see them

knocking off time and the last shift is waiting for the lift to bring them back down